Manchester United Academy Prospects Transfer to Arsenal with Sell-On Clauses
Manchester United are preparing to wave goodbye to two more academy prospects – but they are making sure the door to future profit stays wide open.
Habeeb Ogunneye and James Scanlon are both heading for Arsenal, with United inserting sizeable sell-on clauses into the deals, according to The Athletic.
Arsenal Move In for Ogunneye and Scanlon
Ogunneye, a 20-year-old right-back, has already undergone a medical with Arsenal ahead of a proposed switch from Old Trafford. Scanlon, a 19-year-old winger, is also close to sealing his move to north London.
Both transfers are expected to go through as free moves in terms of upfront fees, but United have protected their interests. Significant sell-on clauses will kick in if either player is sold on for a fee later in their careers.
There is another link between the clubs. Arsenal’s new under-21 head coach, David Horseman, knows both players well after spending four months at United as an academy coach. He has clearly wasted little time in raiding his former employers.
United Follow Chelsea’s Blueprint
This is not just about trimming numbers. It is strategy.
The Premier League’s Elite Player Performance Plan reshaped academies, turning them into not only pipelines for first teams but also engines for financial sustainability. Chelsea have set the benchmark, banking more than £400m in transfer income from academy graduates.
For clubs operating under PSR rules, homegrown sales are gold. They count as pure profit on the balance sheet, and United are now leaning hard into that model.
A Summer of Smart Exits
The departures of Ogunneye and Scanlon continue a clear pattern at United this summer.
Last week, Ethan Ennis left for League One side Stockport County, with the youngster choosing to drop down the pyramid for senior minutes. Before him, Ethan Williams joined Peterborough United, goalkeeper Radek Vitek moved to Middlesbrough, and defender Tyler Fredricson signed for Ineos-owned Lausanne Sport.
The structure of those deals underlines United’s new approach.
Williams’ exit included a 50 per cent sell-on clause, a buyback option and matching rights, giving United the chance to return for him or at least profit heavily if his value explodes elsewhere.
Vitek’s transfer brought in a substantial initial fee, with the total potentially rising to £14m. United also locked in a 35 per cent sell-on clause, alongside buyback and matching rights.
Fredricson’s move to Lausanne carried a “high percentage” sell-on clause and a buyback option too, again ensuring United stay financially tied to his progress.
The theme is clear: United will let young players leave, but not without keeping a stake in whatever comes next.
Ratcliffe’s Vision Takes Shape
Behind all of this sits Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s vision for a sharper, more lucrative academy.
"You need the academy to be producing talent all the time. It helps you financially," he said on The Business Podcast last October.
United are now acting on that belief. Players who might not break into Erik ten Hag’s first team are being moved on with carefully constructed clauses, turning potential lost talent into future revenue streams.
Arsenal may feel they are getting two promising youngsters for nothing this summer. The real verdict will come years down the line, when Ogunneye and Scanlon either fade away or explode into assets that prove just how shrewd – or how costly – these sell-on clauses really were.
